Experimental analysis of frictional power loss of hydrostatic slipper bearings

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate experimentally slippers, which have an important role on power dissipation in the swash plate axial piston pumps. Since slippers affect the performance of the system considerably, the effects of surface roughness on lubrication have been studied in slippers with varying hydrostatic bearing areas and surface roughness. Design/methodology/approach An experimental set‐up was designed to determine the performance of slippers, which are capable of increasing the efficiency of axial piston pumps, in different conditions. Findings The findings suggest that the frictional power loss has been caused by surface roughness, capillary tube diameter, and the size of the hydrostatic bearing area, supply pressure and the relative velocity. In the case of the 0.7 and 9.5 μm surface roughness more power is needed to overcome the friction force between slippers and slipper plates, but less power loss occurs with the slippers with surface roughness of 1.5 μm. The slippers with surface roughness of 1.5 μm are considered, because of the optimum power loss. Moreover, the power loss decreases with increasing capillary tube diameter and supply pressure. Originality/value In order to investigate slipper behaviour under different operating conditions, with different capillary tube size and supply pressure an experimental work was carried out for finding exact design parameters of the real time system.